"I Want to Tell You a Story..."
We are collections of stories. We are the stories we have been taught, the stories we have experienced, for good or for ill. We take in other's stories, and share the gift of our stories with those we encounter. Stories shape our identity and also how we interact with the world; the truth in such stories strengthens us, and untrue stories do us great harm. Behind every story is a series of assumptions, both truth and lies, that we agree with either overtly or covertly in order to believe the story and make it effective. Without stories to inform us of who we are and where we come from, we become lost, rudderless, until we find or invent our stories again.
As part of my experience with attending Synod Assembly, I participated in workshops led by the Reverend Traci Blackmon, who engaged us in exploring our personal stories, and also the story of the shaping of American identity and culture and how racism contributed to the shape. We all realized that we come to the table with so many nuanced narratives, that even if two or more people come with nominally the same story, each individual story is shaped by the previous experiences of the storyteller. The story is the lived experience of an individual. One of the participants commented, "You can question me on my facts, but you can't question my story." Only the storyteller can allow newly learned facts to color their narration of their story; it does not change the lived experience of the time.
The story of the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church is hundreds of years old - nearly 300 years - and not always Presbyterian. It is a worshiping body that began primarily Lutheran, acquired a few other labels for a while, and only in the 1960's aligned with the Presbyterian denomination. There is a story in that journey. There is triumph and defeat, uplifting those in need, and probably oppression, there are joys and heartaches in the story. Difficulties have taken place in the life and witness of the congregation - there are stories there - and wonderful moments of grace have been experienced as well, with even more stories to tell.
Stories require imagination and vision, as does the life of faith. Without vision, our stories become repetitive and stale; the Holy Spirit is the life that infuses our stories with refreshing newness and helps us envision possibilities and hope. It is in that spirit of envisioning hope that I share with you some of the ideas coalesced at the Manse Mission Discussion from Sunday. As you read each idea, create a short story in your head, imagine the possibilities from each idea.
Rent the manse
Sell the manse
Let the county borrow it
Rent to a not-for-profit organization
Donate to a charity
Ask other local churches how they handle building use
Partner with another non-profit
Set up Mentoring for High School and Middle School students
Require the Pastor to live in it with their family
Short-term rentals for workshops, events, and mission groups
What story can you envision with each of these ideas? How does each enhance the mission of SUPC?
I love you all
~Pastor Andrea Joy Holroyd
